Yes, just like the prequel, she plays the character Neytiri in the world of Avatar, but this time as a mother of 3 and an adopted daughter. Neytiri te Tskaha Mo'at'ite, or simply Neytiri Sully, is a special character from the incredible world of Pandora in the movie series Avatar, created by the talented filmmaker James Cameron. She's not just any character; she's a fearless and wise warrior from the Na'vi tribe.
The amazing Zoe Saldana is the talented actress who brings Neytiri to life on the big screen. She first portrayed Neytiri in the original Avatar film released in 2009 and has continued to play this iconic character in its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022, and will also continue to play her in the highly anticipated Avatar 3.
How was Zoe Saldana cast in Avatar?
Finding the perfect actress to portray Neytiri was no easy task. In the 1990s, Charisma Carpenter was initially considered for the role. However, when the film was finally greenlit in 2006, Carpenter had aged out of the role, and Cameron had to start a worldwide search for the ideal actress.
Several actresses, including Q'orianka Kilcher and Emily Blunt, auditioned for the role. Ultimately, Zoe Saldana was chosen to bring Neytiri to life. Saldana's early casting also helped in the screen-testing process for the role of Jake Sully, leading to the selection of Sam Worthington as her co-star.
Zoe Saldana as Neytiri
Zoe Saldana has shared that she deeply connects with her character Neytiri's story. She explained that becoming a parent made her understand the fear of losing someone you love, which she now relates to Neytiri's experiences. “In my own life, becoming a parent introduced fear into my world”, she said. “The fear of losing someone you care about so much, you know? And you find yourself imagining all sorts of unimaginable scenarios.”
She later added that when she read the script for the second Avatar movie, she realized that it was Neytiri's story. But she didn't see it at first. She sees it now because her role was not just to see it, but to become it. Cameron also pointed out that Saldana's co-star Sam Worthington's character makes daring moves, but he might not do the same if he were a father of four.
What happens to Neytiri in Avatar 2?
After the first Avatar, Neytiri and Jake go on to build a beautiful family together. They have three wonderful children: Neteyam, Lo'ak, and Tuk. In addition to their own kids, they also adopt two more members into their loving family, Kiri and Miles Spider Socorro, the human son of Colonel Miles Quaritch.
Trouble arises when the RDA returns to Pandora, seeking to colonize the planet once again. Jake and Neytiri, along with their family, join the Omaticaya tribe in resisting the RDA's advances. When their children are captured by the Recombinants - Na'vi avatars with the memories of deceased soldiers - Jake and Neytiri must take action to save them.
The family's journey leads them to the Metkayina tribe, where they are reluctantly taken in by clan chief Tonowari. Here, they learn new ways of life, and Kiri forms a deep spiritual bond with the sea, while Lo'ak befriends Tsireya, the daughter of Tonowari and Ronal. As the story unfolds, Aonung and his friends play a prank on Lo'ak, leaving him stranded in the ocean's distant reaches. However, Lo'ak's resilience leads him to an extraordinary discovery – he befriends Payakan, a tulkun, a remarkable and peaceful cetacean species considered family by the Metkayina.
When Kiri attempts to connect with the Metkayina's Spirit Tree and suffers a violent seizure, it triggers a chain of events. The RDA is alerted to their whereabouts, putting the family in grave danger. Quaritch, who commandeers a whaling vessel to hunt tulkuns for their brain enzymes, becomes a menacing threat. The climax of the story sees Jake, Neytiri, and the Metkayina tribe confronting the human threat head-on. Quaritch forces Jake to surrender, but Neytiri's unwavering courage changes the course of events. The sinking vessel becomes a battleground, with Payakan's intervention and the family's determination ultimately prevailing.
The movie takes an emotional turn as the family mourns the loss of Neteyam, who sacrificed himself to protect his siblings. Jake, Neytiri, and their family make the difficult decision to leave the Metkayina tribe, but their newfound bonds ensure they are always welcome.
FAQs
A. The talented actress Zoe Saldana portrays Neytiri in the Avatar series, including the original Avatar film (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), and the upcoming Avatar 3.
A. In Avatar 2, Neytiri and Jake have settled down and raised a family on Pandora. Their journey continues as they face new challenges when the RDA returns to the planet. Neytiri's role expands as she takes on new responsibilities to protect her family and people.
A. Neytiri and Jake have three biological children and have also adopted two more members into their family. Their family becomes a focal point of the story as they face danger and work together to overcome the threats posed by the RDA.
